The Big Picture: Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions

Characteristics of an Enduring Understanding n Involve the big ideas that give meaning and importance to facts n Can transfer to other topics, fields, and life n Are usually not obvious or concrete n Justify the use of teaching a skill n Are deliberately framed as generalizations

Examples of Enduring Understandings n Authors write with different purposes in mind. n Readers develop a deeper understanding through reflection of text. n Describe the structures that humans have to serve different functions in growth and survival. n Developing number sense and number relationship.

Your Turn... n Turn to a partner and describe the common elements of an enduring understanding.

Essential Questions n Essential questions help drive instruction.

What are the Common Elements? n Have no simple, right answer n Raise other important questions, often cross subject boundaries n Often address philosophical or conceptual foundations of a discipline n Connect to students’ lives and interests

Examples of Essential Questions n How does reading influence us? n In what ways is the past about me? n Where do words or phrases come from? n What makes me healthy? n How do we show a part of something?

Your Turn... n Turn to a partner and describe the common elements of an essential question.